Peaceful protest by Isla Mujeres taxistas against the approval of the Mobility Law allowing UberVIDEO

Whale shark tours suspended due to poor weatherLINK
The Harbor Master of Isla Mujeres, Ismael González Gil, confirmed that the whale shark tours were suspended on Tuesday, May 29. Trips to Isla Contoy by the smaller boats were also restricted due to the winds from the east-southeast at 25-35 km/hr with gusts up to 50km/hr. The small boats were allowed to operate in the bay and the ferries continued normally. He said attention should be paid to the forecasts for Wednesday and Thursday, when the wind is expected to increase. Meanwhile the rains are expected to continue in an isolated manner, but not constant nor copious.

The Isla Mujeres Vectors Department is ready to continue anti-mosquito actions and conduct nebulization in the colonias, but rain has delayed these actionsLINK May 29 One
of the workers with the municipal Department of Vectors explained that while many of the mosquitoes are not
carriers of diseases such as zika, or dengue, they are causing annoyance in the colonias. However, their work has been interrupted, since they cannot work when it is raining because the chemicals are neutralized by the rain. He said there are 180 ovitraps around the island which are constantly monitored. He said they had planned to fumigate this afternoon (yesterday) but that was postponed due to the rain. He explained that the problem isn't exclusive to Isla Mujeres and a general increase in mosquitoes has been registered due to the recent rains.

Payment of March-April scholarships in various categories including academic excellence, sports, and transportation. There were 262 scholarship paid in the island part of the municipality. Payments for the Continental Zone will be made May 30 and 31.

Leaders and
representatives of the different unions of taxi drivers in the state request a meeting with the Governor to talk about the Mobility Law.

The
taxi drivers union of Isla Mujeres, "Lic. Gustavo Díaz Ordaz", joined the peaceful protests of taxi drivers around the state to express their
dissatisfaction with the Mobility Law, approved by the state Congress, allowing Uber to operate in Quintana Roo.

VIDEO of peaceful protest by Isla Mujeres taxi drivers against the Mobility Law.

Mosquitoes There has been a notable increase in mosquitoes in Isla Mujeres.The
colonias located in the vicinity of the salina lakes and marshes of Sac Bajo are suffering from the presence of these insects, which were "attacking" tourists and islanders this afternoon. The reporter went to the Vectors office and were told that 160 ovitraps have been placed in different
parts of the island, and they were waiting for the rains to end so they could fumigate all the
colonias of Isla Mujeres.

May 29 The rain disrupted
tourist activities in Isla Mujeres and Harbor Master Miguel González Gil announced
that the port is partially closed to navigation for small boats who were only allowed to operate in the lighthouse
and lagoon area, with extreme caution. VIDEO

Low pressure system reduces tourism Baja presión rebaja el turismo [+] Ver masFull article at this link
On Tuesday, there were cloudy skies and intermittent rain, which reduced tourism and caused the port to be partially closed for boats under forty feet, who were allowed to operate in the Bay. The winds and swells are expected to increase on Wednesday and Thursday, so it is anticipated that the restrictions will continue, and activities in the bay by small boats could also be prohibited. When the fishermen are unable to go out, many restaurants and hotels have no choice but to obtain seafood from other sources.
There were fewer tourists visiting for the day or staying overnight and the ferries were less than half full. The owners of small hotels said they didn't agree with the official statistics saying that hotel occupancy is 65%, since they say they are lucky to have five rooms rented.

Anti-Uber demonstration Isla Mujeres taxi drivers joined the anti-Uber demonstrations to express their dissatisfaction with the approval of the Mobility Law, which will allow the operation of Uber in Quintana Roo. Around four in the afternoon and for more than half an hour the island was practically without taxi service, which left dozens of users unable to travel to their jobs, homes or other activities, since there is no other type of public transportation service except taxis, which eliminates the option of waiting for a bus.

The complaints were immediate: both downtown and in the colonias, since islanders and tourists who lack their own vehicle had no choice but to wait until the taxi drivers concluded their demonstration against the Mobility Law and returned to the sad reality of the difficult 'roulette' to earn money to pay for gasoline and daily expenses.

Kitchenette in small room, Medio. There's a table & chairs across from it & a double bed.

A large slider
opens from each of the 3 rooms onto the patio where each has a table
& chairs, hammock & clotheslines. The BBQ is behind the pole,
and the outdoor shower is outa the pic at left.

Large studio (Norte), I'm standing in the kitchen. A queen & single bed.

Free
amenities such as
hammocks,
bikes, outdoor shower,
portable beach
chairs &
beach towels,
washer, loungers.
Breathtaking
panoramic views from the
rooftop terrace. Upstairs room also available.Downtown
is ~ a mile away; if
you don't feel like
walking or biking, flag a $2 taxi. Parking. You can enjoy the music & crowds downtown, then
come home our
quiet neighborhood of Bachilleres where you'll sleep to the sounds of the sea.. $275/$325/$425 wk $40/50/$65nt Monthly Discounts

Fine
dining a few steps away at Da Luisa or try the
traditional neighborhood eateries a couple blocks farther. Within
ten minutes walk are the restaurants Mango Cafe, Brisas, Manolitos,
Green Verde, Kash Kechen Chuc, and the large department store-grocery
Chedraui. Visit marinas, bars, & beach
clubs that are minutes away by bike or on foot. Attend Yoga classes a
couple villas away at hotelito Casa
Ixchel. Fresh juice, produce & tortillas a few blocks
away in the village, as well as a
variety of other stores and small local restaurants. It takes
20-30 minutes to walk downtown.

Tuesday, May 1 Labor Day Official Holiday Last
year there were performers & raffle prizes for the kids at the Green
Dome in Salina Chica.

Turtles begin mating and nesting
in May. They can be observed mating offshore from Punta Sur during this
month, and they nest along the eastern beaches. Tortugranja staff and
volunteers gather the eggs and incubate them in the sand in a pen
outside the facility. This is the dry season when farmers burn brush
from their milpa-fields on the mainland, and salt was gathered at Salina
Grande lake for hundreds of years, until the mid 1900's.

Wednesday May 2
Private Sol al Sol Regatta Events: Golf Cart Poker Run at 10a and
Captain's party at the Casa del las Rocas & Crew party at Buhos both
at 1p. (Happy hour schedules will be posted each day by 11am at the
Race Headquarters. This is the 50th edition, they come annually from St
Petersburg, Florida.)

photo by Bruce Roberts

Wednesday May 2 at 7p Annual Basketball game between
Islanders & Sol al Sol regatta participants at downtown court by the
Town Square.

Thursday, May 3 Dia de la Cruz (celebrated by construction workers)

Thursday, May 3 Artist Fair 3-8 Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero at Abasolo

Tuesday, May 15 Regatta Al Sol Private Beach party at noon and City Council reception at Town Hall at 7p

Tuesday, May 15 Dia del Maestro / Teacher's Day

Tuesday
May 15 Whale Shark Season officially begins (if the permits are issued
on time this year). Rays can also be seen enjoying the 'buffet' that
attracts the whale sharks to this area. (There are abundant fish eggs
and plankton in the areas where they congregate and feed).

photo by Tony Garcia

Tuesday May 15 Protection of the Nesting Turtles
& Eggs begins, but Tortugranja staff usually begin watching for the
Hawksbills in early May, who start nesting earlier, and are the least
common here. The Greens are most common, by far, and the Loggerheads are
second.

Wednesday, May 16 Regatta Al Sol Captain's party at the Rock House (private event). 5p Mardi Gras Parade from Ciros Restaurant. 7p Basketball game against Islander team on downtown court by the Town Square

Thursday, May 17 Artist Fair 3-8 Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero at Abasolo

Thursday, May 24 Artist Fair 3-8 Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero at Abasolo

Saturday, May 26 8am Plogging clean up location TBA

Sunday, May 27 Noches Magicas performances at 8p on the Town Square

Thursday, May 31 Artist Fair 3-8 Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero at AbasoloSources for Weather Information:LINK to Civil Protection Q Roo weather bulletin (Spanish)LINK to Mexico National Weather Service (Spanish) LINK
to satellite images for the Mexico National Weather Service (Yucatan
peninsula is under Satellite GOES Este, I recommend "Animacion" (it used
to be in my blog margin, until Blogger became incompatible with it).LINK to a private weather station on Isla Mujeres

Marinsa's new ferries could arrive at any time
Although the Marinsa company isn't disclosing advance information about the renewal of their fleet, it has been confirmed that the boats are ready and could arrive at any time for the required tests. These ferries were once operated by the Magana company, and have been renovated and painted, so they are now ready to resume operating on the route between Isla Mujeres and Puerto Juarez, a route founded by the Magana company over fifty years ago.
Photographs confirm that the boats have been painted at a shipyard in Progreso, Yucatan, and now it is expected that they will arrive in Isla Mujeres in the next few days. It is anticipated that their schedules will be adjusted since the travel times should be reduced with these boats.

Cockteleros going to the regional finalCockteleros a la final del regional[+] Ver masFull article at this link
See yesterday's translations. The Isla Mujeres baseball team qualified for the regional finals when they beat the Tomateros of Bonfil this past weekend, by a score of 4-1. Now they are waiting to see who their rivals will be, between the Tigres and the Azulejos, who are tied with one game each, and their playoff will be this upcoming weekend. The first game of the regional finals could be held in Cancun in 15 days, depending on some of the results in the semifinal series.

Two drill teams from Isla Mujeres (bandas de guerra y escolta) from the middle school "Benito Juarez" won first and second place in the First Competition de Bandas de Guerra y Escoltas, which was held this weekend and organized by the Universidad Politécnica de Bacalar. They will defend their title at the next competition in December.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In State news....

Yesterday, the state Congress approved Uber, (and similar companies)
with limitations, which include the vehicle must be less than four years
old with a minimum value of 3000 UMA's (~240,000p/~$13,000usd), must
obtain a permit, have GPS, and only be operated by the owner and one
other driver. Taxistas in Chetumal & Bacalar who witnessed
the session began shouting they will make them (the legislators) pay on
election day. There have been protests and blockades in Cancun and Playa, tho the union says they aren't union-sanctioned.
This is part of the Mobility Law, which will go into force 90 days
after its official publication, and then the Governor must appoint a
Director to the new Mobility Institute within 30 days. The
Mobility Institute will assume the transportation functions of SINTRA
(Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport), as well as being responsible
for carrying out feasibility studies to determine public transportation
needs in each municipality. (Hopefully, these studies will prompt the
isle to have combis or buses, again). SINTRA currently oversees
public transport, including golf cart rental agencies, cabs, and cargo
vehicles. The new director in Isla has been creating an app to oversee
the cart rental agencies, and conducting checkpoints to crack down on
'piracy' and 'cloning'.

Kitchenette in small room, Medio. There's a table & chairs across from it & a double bed.

A large slider
opens from each of the 3 rooms onto the patio where each has a table
& chairs, hammock & clotheslines. The BBQ is behind the pole,
and the outdoor shower is outa the pic at left.

Large studio (Norte), I'm standing in the kitchen. A queen & single bed.

Free
amenities such as
hammocks,
bikes, outdoor shower,
portable beach
chairs &
beach towels,
washer, loungers.
Breathtaking
panoramic views from the
rooftop terrace. Upstairs room also available.Downtown
is ~ a mile away; if
you don't feel like
walking or biking, flag a $2 taxi. Parking. You can enjoy the music & crowds downtown, then
come home our
quiet neighborhood of Bachilleres where you'll sleep to the sounds of the sea.. $275/$325/$425 wk $40/50/$65nt Monthly Discounts

Fine
dining a few steps away at Da Luisa or try the
traditional neighborhood eateries a couple blocks farther. Within
ten minutes walk are the restaurants Mango Cafe, Brisas, Manolitos,
Green Verde, Kash Kechen Chuc, and the large department store-grocery
Chedraui. Visit marinas, bars, & beach
clubs that are minutes away by bike or on foot. Attend Yoga classes a
couple villas away at hotelito Casa
Ixchel. Fresh juice, produce & tortillas a few blocks
away in the village, as well as a
variety of other stores and small local restaurants. It takes
20-30 minutes to walk downtown.

Tuesday, May 1 Labor Day Official Holiday Last
year there were performers & raffle prizes for the kids at the Green
Dome in Salina Chica.

Turtles begin mating and nesting
in May. They can be observed mating offshore from Punta Sur during this
month, and they nest along the eastern beaches. Tortugranja staff and
volunteers gather the eggs and incubate them in the sand in a pen
outside the facility. This is the dry season when farmers burn brush
from their milpa-fields on the mainland, and salt was gathered at Salina
Grande lake for hundreds of years, until the mid 1900's.

Wednesday May 2
Private Sol al Sol Regatta Events: Golf Cart Poker Run at 10a and
Captain's party at the Casa del las Rocas & Crew party at Buhos both
at 1p. (Happy hour schedules will be posted each day by 11am at the
Race Headquarters. This is the 50th edition, they come annually from St
Petersburg, Florida.)

photo by Bruce Roberts

Wednesday May 2 at 7p Annual Basketball game between
Islanders & Sol al Sol regatta participants at downtown court by the
Town Square.

Thursday, May 3 Dia de la Cruz (celebrated by construction workers)

Thursday, May 3 Artist Fair 3-8 Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero at Abasolo

Tuesday, May 15 Regatta Al Sol Private Beach party at noon and City Council reception at Town Hall at 7p

Tuesday, May 15 Dia del Maestro / Teacher's Day

Tuesday
May 15 Whale Shark Season officially begins (if the permits are issued
on time this year). Rays can also be seen enjoying the 'buffet' that
attracts the whale sharks to this area. (There are abundant fish eggs
and plankton in the areas where they congregate and feed).

photo by Tony Garcia

Tuesday May 15 Protection of the Nesting Turtles
& Eggs begins, but Tortugranja staff usually begin watching for the
Hawksbills in early May, who start nesting earlier, and are the least
common here. The Greens are most common, by far, and the Loggerheads are
second.

Wednesday, May 16 Regatta Al Sol Captain's party at the Rock House (private event). 5p Mardi Gras Parade from Ciros Restaurant. 7p Basketball game against Islander team on downtown court by the Town Square

Thursday, May 17 Artist Fair 3-8 Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero at Abasolo

Thursday, May 24 Artist Fair 3-8 Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero at Abasolo

Saturday, May 26 8am Plogging clean up location TBA

Sunday, May 27 Noches Magicas performances at 8p on the Town Square

Thursday, May 31 Artist Fair 3-8 Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero at AbasoloSources for Weather Information:LINK to Civil Protection Q Roo weather bulletin (Spanish)LINK to Mexico National Weather Service (Spanish) LINK
to satellite images for the Mexico National Weather Service (Yucatan
peninsula is under Satellite GOES Este, I recommend "Animacion" (it used
to be in my blog margin, until Blogger became incompatible with it).LINK to a private weather station on Isla Mujeres

Open Water swim Cruce 2018
There were 1384 participants from 30 countries in the 13th edition of the open water swimming competition from Cancun to Isla Mujeres yesterday. The swimmers overcame the choppy waters, swimming 10km from Playa Caracol to Playa Pescador on Isla Mujeres. The first finisher was Alfredo Villa from Jalisco with a time of 1:40:28, while Cristhoper Robinson from the USA came in second with a time of 1:41:19, and third place was won by Fernando Betanzos of Quintana Roo, who was only a few seconds behind him with a time of 1:41:22.
Among the women, first place was won by
Sandra Frimerman Bergquit, of the USA with a time of 1:56:11, who was just ahead of Lucila Navarese of Quintana Roo, who finished with 1:56:24, and third place went to
María Lorena Martínez, of Nuevo León with 2:01:50. The swim that was scheduled for Saturday of 3.8km from the open sea to Playa Caracol in Cancun was cancelled due to the weather.

VIDEO of swimmers departing whose caption says: With more than
1,400 competitors from Mexico and other countries, the 13th edition of the "Cruce Cancún-Isla Mujeres", departed from Playa
Caracol from Quintana Roo Hoy, shared by Noti Isla Mujeres. (They swam to The Caribbean Carnaval Beach Club on Isla Mujeres, which is 10km.)

VIDEO whose caption says the Cockteleros are now in the baseball finals, and are waiting to see who their rivals will be.

From por esto Link to their Isla Mujeres articles & photosTigres interested in two Isla Mujeres soccer players Club Tigres convoca a dos futbolistas.. [+] Ver masFull article at this link Rubén Garrido and Noé López, who are both 17 years old and players for the Isla Mujeres Club Tiburoneros, have been invited to try out for the Club Tigres of Mexico, after being observed by specialists of the organization recently in Playa del Carmen. The two talented players will visit Monterrey, Nuevo Leon this week, starting today. They are among a dozen young people from the state of Quintana Roo who have been invited, who were born in the years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2007. At the presentation, Ruben Garrido was accompanied by his father, who has the same name, and is a member and manager of the Isla Blanca cooperative, who are involved with the organization of the Tiburoneros. Noe Lopez was unaccompanied, who came from Chiapas six months ago to join the Isla Mujeres soccer team. Noé de Jesús López Albores was formerly part of the Club Comitan, until he was invited by the Isla Mujeres coach to join the Club Tiburoneros. The father of Rubén Antonio Garrido Álvarez said he has always supported his son's interest in soccer, which has been present since he was young, and he supports his son's plans to play in the First Division of National Soccer. Coach Gerson Boss, who is Brazilian, said the medium and long term plans for the Club Tiburoneros of Isla Mujeres are to train young people to compete at the
national level in the circuits of the fifth, fourth and third
professional divisions of Mexican soccer. He has invited local businesses and organizations to be involved and supportive, and participants have included Mayor Juan Carrillo, who is currently running for reelection (so currently not active as mayor), and the Isla Bonita cooperative.

Tourism activities continue including diving, sport fishing and trips to Isla Contoy Buceo, pesca deportiva y viaje a Contoy[+] Ver masFull article at this link
Due to the good weather, the port was open again for general navigation on Sunday, allowing fishermen to work and tourists to enjoy nautical activities. More recreational boats were observed in the Bay than on Saturday, when the port opened to general navigation at 9am. Many tourists arrived to the island and more than 60 percent of the golf cart rental fleet, and the rental scooters, were mobilized according to preliminary information at ~1pm when people were still arriving to the island. Isla Mujeres news briefsBreves de Isla Mujeres [+] Ver masFull article at this link Mr. Raúl González Rubio, passed away on Saturday from a heart condition, who had been a seller of Por Esto newspapers at the municipal market "Audomaro Magaña", in the Cañotal
colony, as well as at his home downtown on Juarez Avenue. He combined this work with being a watchman for the Berney Hotel two years ago. He was very much appreciated for his sensitivity to people. Recently he entered the hospital for medical treatment and review, but his illness worsened and he passed away. His memorial service took place at the casa de El Jacalito, where he lived, and his relatives said his body was taken to the Immaculate Conception church for burial later. There will be no political debate among the five candidates for Mayor, since only one registered during the registration period, who is the representative for the MORENA and PT parties, Edgar Gasca.

Kitchenette in small room, Medio. There's a table & chairs across from it & a double bed.

A large slider
opens from each of the 3 rooms onto the patio where each has a table
& chairs, hammock & clotheslines. The BBQ is behind the pole,
and the outdoor shower is outa the pic at left.

Large studio (Norte), I'm standing in the kitchen. A queen & single bed.

Free
amenities such as
hammocks,
bikes, outdoor shower,
portable beach
chairs &
beach towels,
washer, loungers.
Breathtaking
panoramic views from the
rooftop terrace. Upstairs room also available.Downtown
is ~ a mile away; if
you don't feel like
walking or biking, flag a $2 taxi. Parking. You can enjoy the music & crowds downtown, then
come home our
quiet neighborhood of Bachilleres where you'll sleep to the sounds of the sea.. $275/$325/$425 wk $40/50/$65nt Monthly Discounts

Fine
dining a few steps away at Da Luisa or try the
traditional neighborhood eateries a couple blocks farther. Within
ten minutes walk are the restaurants Mango Cafe, Brisas, Manolitos,
Green Verde, Kash Kechen Chuc, and the large department store-grocery
Chedraui. Visit marinas, bars, & beach
clubs that are minutes away by bike or on foot. Attend Yoga classes a
couple villas away at hotelito Casa
Ixchel. Fresh juice, produce & tortillas a few blocks
away in the village, as well as a
variety of other stores and small local restaurants. It takes
20-30 minutes to walk downtown.

Tuesday, May 1 Labor Day Official Holiday Last
year there were performers & raffle prizes for the kids at the Green
Dome in Salina Chica.

Turtles begin mating and nesting
in May. They can be observed mating offshore from Punta Sur during this
month, and they nest along the eastern beaches. Tortugranja staff and
volunteers gather the eggs and incubate them in the sand in a pen
outside the facility. This is the dry season when farmers burn brush
from their milpa-fields on the mainland, and salt was gathered at Salina
Grande lake for hundreds of years, until the mid 1900's.

Wednesday May 2
Private Sol al Sol Regatta Events: Golf Cart Poker Run at 10a and
Captain's party at the Casa del las Rocas & Crew party at Buhos both
at 1p. (Happy hour schedules will be posted each day by 11am at the
Race Headquarters. This is the 50th edition, they come annually from St
Petersburg, Florida.)

photo by Bruce Roberts

Wednesday May 2 at 7p Annual Basketball game between
Islanders & Sol al Sol regatta participants at downtown court by the
Town Square.

Thursday, May 3 Dia de la Cruz (celebrated by construction workers)

Thursday, May 3 Artist Fair 3-8 Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero at Abasolo

Tuesday, May 15 Regatta Al Sol Private Beach party at noon and City Council reception at Town Hall at 7p

Tuesday, May 15 Dia del Maestro / Teacher's Day

Tuesday
May 15 Whale Shark Season officially begins (if the permits are issued
on time this year). Rays can also be seen enjoying the 'buffet' that
attracts the whale sharks to this area. (There are abundant fish eggs
and plankton in the areas where they congregate and feed).

photo by Tony Garcia

Tuesday May 15 Protection of the Nesting Turtles
& Eggs begins, but Tortugranja staff usually begin watching for the
Hawksbills in early May, who start nesting earlier, and are the least
common here. The Greens are most common, by far, and the Loggerheads are
second.

Wednesday, May 16 Regatta Al Sol Captain's party at the Rock House (private event). 5p Mardi Gras Parade from Ciros Restaurant. 7p Basketball game against Islander team on downtown court by the Town Square

Thursday, May 17 Artist Fair 3-8 Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero at Abasolo

Thursday, May 24 Artist Fair 3-8 Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero at Abasolo

Saturday, May 26 8am Plogging clean up location TBA

Sunday, May 27 Noches Magicas performances at 8p on the Town Square

Thursday, May 31 Artist Fair 3-8 Casa de la Cultura on the back street Guerrero at AbasoloSources for Weather Information:LINK to Civil Protection Q Roo weather bulletin (Spanish)LINK to Mexico National Weather Service (Spanish) LINK
to satellite images for the Mexico National Weather Service (Yucatan
peninsula is under Satellite GOES Este, I recommend "Animacion" (it used
to be in my blog margin, until Blogger became incompatible with it).LINK to a private weather station on Isla Mujeres

MVC B&B Sponsors This Blog

Click on the graphic to visit our website

...

MVC Guests from Ontario wrote...

We have returned to Maravilla Caribe and we consider it to be a gem. Is it a luxurious resort? No. On the other hand, it's the kind of place where you feel comfortable sitting outside with a beer and watching the ocean, reading all afternoon in a hammock or going for a long walk along the shore. To sit on the patio with a plate of fresh fruit and a cup of coffee is my idea of the perfect morning. It's like having your own little private beach cottage - it's not fancy but that's not what we're looking for. A 15 minute walk takes you into the busy little town, full of great little restaurants and shops, and a $3 taxi ride will get you just about anywhere on the island. The landlord is friendly, accommodating and genuinely cares about and knows the local community. For anyone who wants a lavish package vacation, this obviously isn't the place for you - there are plenty of resorts that will fit your needs. Maravilla is a simple, lovely place to get away from it all.

Visits Since June 2011

Taunya from Washington wrote

Hi Ronda,

I want to say thank you again for a fabulous vacation! Your studio was perfect! Having the extra space, kitchenette and dinning table made the space perfect for a long stay. Your little details like coffee filters and ice cube trays made it feel like home. I also really appreciated that you were there if I needed anything, but that you also let me have my space.

Being out of downtown, yet close to everything made the location perfect. Add the beautiful beach and it couldn't have been any better!

Thank you so much! When I return to Isla I will be back on your doorstep. Happy Holidays!

MaraVilla Caribe Bed & Beach Guests Say..

Judy from Ohio wrote...I stayed at Maravilla and absolutely loved it. Beach and patio was kept very clean and since handicapped I would spend the days on patio with my laptop at table right outside my room. Each room had table/chairs in front of room. Not many places on isla you have the beach right outside your door-saves alot of money instead of renting beach chairs and buying drinks downtown. I also do not like crowded beaches and stacks of chairs next to each other as on the north beaches. You hear absolutely no street noise just the waves hitting the shore. There were bikes free to use, beachchairs free to take to downtown, and free washer/dryer to use. The price is excellent value and the owners live there so they do not need to list with an agency giving renters better $ value. Isla is not for everyone. But condo/luxury hotels now line the once beautiful North Beach for those wanting the Cancun version of places to stay, so sad, plus $$$$. I prefer peace,quiet, and great value. Not many places with sunrise/sunset views.

Renee from Toronto wrote...

For some of us, there comes a time when we prefer peace and quiet to hustle and bustle. For a few regrettable years, I got off buses and lined up with the rest of the schmucks to check in for the all inclusive 'experience'. I set the alarm daily to head down with everyone else to make dinner reservations for the pleasure of eating soggy Sushi served by brusque Bahamians. I wore the wristband of shame, identifying me as an easy mark on any excursion. I tipped and cajoled the bartender for extra shots of rum. I listened to the drunken monologues of people who get to cut loose just once a year. With the all inclusive experience, your fate is not entirely your own...

And then I tried something else, the self catering experience - more a case of here's your key, here's your apartment, have fun! Settle in, stock your fridge, stock your bar and you're off to the races. Happy hour is whenever you choose. No lining up at a buffet. Snorkel on your own time. Open a bottle of wine and cook a leisurely dinner - no one's rushing you out for the next seating. Sleep in and eat breakfast when you want, don't worry about the dining room being closed.

That's the experience I prefer these days. And Mara Villa doesn't disappoint. You get exactly what you pay for: a clean and comfortable room with everything you need. The experience is great for people who like to 'do their own thing.' In essence, staying at Mara Villa is like having your own private beachfront villa.

Amenities include good wifi, towels, sheets, dishes, pots and pans, a fridge and freezer, drinking water, hammock hooks, and a clothesline. Bonuses include a patio with tables and chairs, a charcoal BBQ, a beach for watching the sun rise over the water, and a rooftop for watching the sun set over Cancun (also good for star gazing and extreme suntanning).

The local bus passes by the front door and costs 4 pesos to head downtown. A taxi is about $2 into town. Chedraui, the big grocery store, is less than 10 minutes away by foot. Grab a cheap cab home if you've really stocked up.

Ronda is a great host - a storehouse of island information about where to eat and what to do. Bruce, her husband, is an avid snorkeler and can point you in the best direction off their private beach for underwater wildlife. I was lucky enough to see dolphins swimming offshore one day. Close to shore I also saw a barracuda, a sting ray and a pair of graceful Caribbean squid. The usual tropical fish abound as well.

It's worth noting that Mara Villa is located on the east side of the island, windward. The shore is more dramatic and rocky, but there are very few, if any, mosquitos. The west side of the island is calmer and more traditionally 'beachy', but mosquitoes abound at dawn and dusk. With the rocky shore, you need water shoes for entering the water and swimming, but you have the beach all to yourself at Mara Villa. Head to the sublimely Caribbean style North Beach if you miss the crowds.

I spent almost a month at Mara Villa and it was the calm, casual and relaxing experience I craved. I will be back to Mara Villa, but I won't ever go back to an all inclusive.

Call or WhatsApp (01) 998 937 8014

Click here for link to menus from most of your favorite restaurants & more information.

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Jane C from Penland wrote...

My friend and I just stayed at Maravilla Caribe, December 20-25, 2012 and we had an absolutely wonderful experience. The owner, Ronda made me feel comfortable before I arrived, providing helpful information about travel to the area. She made an extra effort to secure a larger room for us, which was perfect. Maravilla is quaint, charming, clean & comfortable. We loved the bright green color of the house! The kitchenette was simple, clean and well equipped with everything we needed to prepare meals. The beds are very comfortable and Ronda provides lots of clean towels. She even offered to let us use the washer/dryer and bicycles for free! The best part (other than the low cost) is you have your own private beach in the back! It is a beautiful place that I highly recommend.

Carol D from Peterborough wrote.....

Hello I stayed at MaraVilla, la Casa Verde :-), Dec 10 to 20 this 2012 for my first time and would not hesitate to return. This is my 11th year staying on the island and I have stayed at many places. The location is amazing, and the owners have modified the patio doors so that those of us who want to hear the waves all night can do so with security. They were super helpful at every turn and what meant the most to me is that they really care about their guests and are friendly. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch together. The room was spacious and clean. At MaraVilla there are only 3 rooms facing the water so it is peaceful, quiet and private. At MaraVilla, there were workers out painting the house in front and raking the beach and it was well maintained. There were no rocks on the clean tile patio. you do need water shoes to wade in to the water but it is worth it. And if you want to go to a more perfect beach i.e. no reef etc then one could go and pay 150-200+ per night at Playa Norte (but you won't hear the waves from your bed or have the privacy or owners that care about you!!). The bed was comfortable, mattress good, sheets in good shape and clean (more than i can say about the place i had the misfortune of staying in Progresso!!). Honestly you get what you pay for in this world and if you were to go to Tulum, or San Filipe or Progresso you are sure getting much more bang for your buck at MaraVilla in the 50-65 dollar range!!! If you are a 5 star resort person I would say stay at a 5 star resort, but if you enjoy the waves, quiet, privacy and caring owners then stay at this MaraVilla the Casa Verde :-)

Noska from Austin wrote....Maravilla is one of the coolest little spots on the isla.The hosts are awesome,location perfect,rooms are clean and affordable

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Music:

Fayne's has late night live music, starts ~10p

El Patio House of Music on Hidlago has live music evenings, usually HH show 5p, continues at 7p.